ROYAL HAWAIIAN WORDS OF WISDOM SAYINGS
("Ka `Olelo No`eau"):

Ua mau ke ea o ka `aina i ka pono.
The life of the land is preserved in righteousness. (Motto of State of Hawaii)

He kehau ho`oma`ema`e ke aloha.
Love is like a cleansing dew. The cleansing power of aloha can soothe and heal. Hurt, pain, and suffering yield to aloha's healing power.

Mohala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua.
Unfolded by the water are the faces of the flowers. Flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living conditions are good.

Ua ola no i ka pane a ke aloha.
There is life in a kindly reply. Though one may have no gift to offer to a friend, a kind word or a friendly greeting is just as important.

Mai ho`oni i ka wai lana malie.
Do not disturb the water that is tranquil. Let the peaceful enjoy their peace.

A`ohe pau ka `ike i ka halau ho`okahi.
All knowledge is not taught in one school.

He po`i na kai uli, kai ko`o, `a`ohe hina pakoa.
Thought the seas be deep and rough, the coral rock remains standing.

He ihona, he pi`ina, he kaolo.
A going down, a going up, a going on a level road. So it is with life.

`A`ohe lokomaika`i i nele i ke pna`i.
No kind deed has ever lacked its reward.

back to
hawaiian sayings and hawaii wisdom word translations directory

E noho iho i ke opu weuweu, mai ho`oki`eki`e.
Remain among the clumps of grass and do not elevate yourself. Don't show off. Don't get puffed up and big-headed. Be ha`aha`a (humble), which does not mean timid, submissive, and spineless. An inner self-confidence which gives rise to quiet strength is far more admirable than self-importance, arrogance, and egotism. Ku`ia ka hele a ka na`au ha`aha`a. Hesitant walks the humble hearted. A humble person walks carefully, so as not to hurt others. Don't walk all over people..! Those who are sensitive to others inspire respect and allegiance. Those who throw their weight around will hurt others, and eventually themselves, when enough people have been hurt.

He lawai`a no ke kai papa`u, he pokole ke aho; he lawai`a no ke kai hohonu he loa ke aho.
A fisherman of the shallow sea uses only a short line; a fisherman of the deep sea has a long line. A person whose knowledge is shallow does not have much, but he, whose knowledge is deep, does.

`A`ohe loa i ka hana a ke aloha.
Distance is ignored by Love.

Ho`ola`i na manu i ke aheahe.
The birds poise quietly in the gentle breezes. (Said of those who are at peace with the world, undisturbed and contented)

Nana ka maka; ho`olohe ka pepeiao; pa`a ka waha.
Observe with the eyes; listen with the ears; shut the mouth. Thus one learns.

Ua hilo `ia i ke aho a ke aloha. Braided with the cords of love. Held in the bonds of affection.

back to
hawaiian sayings and hawaii wisdom word translations directory

A`ohe `ulu e loa`a i ka pokole o ka lou.
No breadfruit can be reached when the picking stick is too short.

Mai pale i ke a`o a ka makua.
Do not set aside the teaching of your elders.

A`ohe pu`u ki`eki`e ke ho`u`o `ia e pi`i.
No cliff is so tall that it cannot be scaled.

O kau aku, o ka ia la mai, pele ka nohona o ka `ohana.
From you and from him, so lived the family. The farmer gave to the fisherman, the fisherman to the farmer.

Me he lau no ke Ko`olau ke aloha.
Love is like the ends (fingertips) of the Ko`olau breeze. Love is like a zephyr, gentle and invisible but present nevertheless.

back to
hawaiian sayings and hawaii wisdom word translations directory

Ua ola loko i ke aloha.
Love gives life within. Love is imperative to one's mental, physical, emotional and spiritual welfare.

He `opu holau.
A house-like stomach. A heart as big as a house. Said of a person who is kind, gracious, and hospitable.

Mai `ena i ke kanaka i laka aku.
Do not shy away from a person who is attracted to you. Treat a person who comes in kindness with kindness.

Aloha mai no, aloha aku; o ka huhu ka mea e ola `ole ai.
When love is given, love should be returned; anger is the thing that gives no life. (Hawaiians understood the transforming power of aloha. Love begets love, and enmity produces enmity. Anger only serves to hurt the angry, causing emotional upset, which impairs mental, physical, and spiritual well-being)

Ua ola no i ka pane a ke aloha.
There is life in a kindly reply.
(Though one may have no gift to offer to a friend, a kind word or a friendly greeting is just as important)

back to
hawaiian sayings and hawaii wisdom word translations directory

Aia a pa`i `ia ka maka, ha`i `ia kupuna nana `oe.
Only when your face is slapped should you tell who your ancestors are. (Do not ride on the coattails of your kupuna (ancestors). For anyone of aristocratic ancestry, speaking or boasting of one's pedigree was unseemly, unless slandered or challenged. For the commoner, impressing others by trying to be someone else was improper, and fussing over status was pretentious. Be yourself!)

Mahala ka pua, ua wehe kaiao.
The blossoms are opening, for dawn is breaking.

Ho`olike ka mana`o i Wailohia.
Make your minds alike at Wailohia. Turn your mind onto the same channel with bright thoughts.
(wai meaning "water" and lohia meaning "sparkle")

He kehau ho`oma`ema`e ke aloha.
Love is like a cleansing dew.
(The cleansing power of aloha can soothe and heal. Hurt, pain, and suffering
yield to aloha's healing power)

`Onipa`a. Stand firm.
(Motto of Queen Lili`uokalani)
 |